Railway cattle-guard causeway.



s. J. BILLINGTON & J. A. STEPHENSON.

RAILWAY CATTLE GUARD GAUSBWAY.

- APPLICATION FILED 0UT.19,1910. 999,741. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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RAILWAY CATTLE GUARD OAUSEWAY.

APPLIOATION FILED 00119, 1910.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

w r Lu?! UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

SAMUEL J. BILLING-TON AND JAMES A. STEPHENSON, OF ELLISTON, MONTANA.

RAILWAY CATTLE-GUARD CAUSEWAY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL J. BILLING- TON and JAMES A. STEPHENSON, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Elliston, in the county of Powell and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Railway Gattle-Guard Causeway, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in View are: to provide anet-like structure arranged to form a shifting tripping platform to prevent the passage of cattle through the openings in fences provided for railway cars to provide a platform of the character set forth, the construction and arrangement whereof are simple and durable; to provide means for preventing the entanglement of the parts of the platform with the structure of a moving car; and to provide attaching devices for the rigid structure which are simple, economical and durable.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan View of a causeway constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1.

The particular use to which the present invention is put is to prevent cattle passing through the open space or gate left in fences where the same cross railroad tracks. Causeways having the same purpose in view have been constructed, but the objections to the employment of such causeways have been that the construction is such as to injure the cattle when they attempt to cross the causeway.

In the structure embodying the present invent-ion, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the causeway is constructed primarily by ties 8, 8, the tops whereof are shaped to form rounded surfaces 9, 9, the same being formed between squared sections 10, 10 and the ends 11, 11. The round surfaces thus formed facilitate the play or run of the flexible chains 12, 12 which are extended between the end ties of the causeway.

Between the intermediate squared sections 10, 10 the rails A, A of the railway are ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 19, 1910.

Patented Aug. 8, 1211.

Serial No. 587,831.

tended and thereto securely spiked or other wise fastened. The outer ends 11, 11 are provided to receive the rails 13, 18 which bind the causeway structure together in the rectangular shape shown in the drawings in Fig. 1. The chains 12, 12 are arranged substantially parallel with the rails A, A and are secured to the ties 8, 8 at each extreme of the causeway. The chains 12, 12 are loosely stretched between the said ties so that at any point between the same the chains may be extended down between adjacent ties to or below the bottom of the said ties. The chains are held to the end ties by means of spikes 14, 14: or other suitable holding devices. The number of chains used in the causeway depends upon the strength which is desired in the apron formed by the said chains. The chains are connected by means of short straps 15, 15 the bended ends 16, 16 whereof are extended through the links of the said chains and overturned thereon to form hinge joints with the said chains. The straps 15, 15 are preferably arranged in alinement, substantially as shown in F ig. 1 of the drawings.

When the chains are secured together and connected in the manner described and shown, it will be seen that an apron is stretched between the ties 8, 8 which prevent the foot of the animal passing to a distance below the top of the ties, which would throw the animal on to the shoulder without danger of breaking the leg or throwing the shoulder out of joint. The depth to which the apron would'yield and pass downward again can be andis governed by the length of the chains 12, 12 employed in the structure. Short sections of the apron are formed between the railway rails A, A and the structural rails 13, 13, substantially as shown in the drawings.

In arranging the straps 15, 15 they are disposed in mutual relation sufficiently close to prevent the hoof of an animal being extended therebetween, and thus holding the animal as in a trap. It will be understood that the purpose of the apron is to trap the animal and straddle it by the insecurity of the footing afforded by the apron, thereby causing the animal to retreat instead of passing on to the opposite side of the causeway. It is to prevent the lift of the apron thus constructed and arranged, by accident, that there are provided, at intervals, cross bars 17, 17. The bars 17, 17 rest upon the flanges of the railway rails A, A, as seen best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The bars 17 are held upon the railway rails in rigid relation thereto by means of straps 18, 18, the outer ends whereof are bent to form hooks 10, 19 to extend up and over the flanges of the railway rails. The end of the strap opposite the hooks 19 is provided with a straight extension 20 adapted to underlie the bars 17. It is the extension 20 which is caught by the loop of the clips 21, 21. The clips 21, 21 are provided with cross bars 22 upon which ride a nut 23. it is obvious that this method of securing the bars 17, 1'? to the railway rails is simple, economical and eflicient. Also that the bars may be quickly adapted to any variation in the gage of the railway rails.

lVhile we have shown in the drawings, and at Fig. 1, but one bar 17, it will be understood that as many such bars as desired, and as the safety of the construction demands, may be employed.

Between the railway rails A, A and the structural rails 13, 13 are extended the strap bars 2%, 2 1. The strap bars 24L, 24lare provided with hook ends 25, which, after being passed under the railway rail is returned up over the flange thereof in a manner similar to the hooks 19, 19. The strap bars 24: are secured to the rails 13, 13 by means of bolts 26, 26, or other suitable fastening devices. It will be understood that the number of bars 17 and the bars 2 1 may vary, there being no necessary relation between the two sets of bars. When the bars 17 and the bars 2% are placed in position it will be seen that the chance of accident due to the uprising or disadjustment of the chains 12, 12 and the straps 15, 15 connecting the same, is obviated.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A railway cattle guard causeway, comprising a plurality of flexible members extended parallel with railway rails and fixedly secured at the ends of said causeway, said members permitting the flexure thereof to extend between the ties of said causeway; and rigid members extended between and connecting the said flexible members to form a latticework between the ends of said causeway.

2. A railway cattle guard causeway, comprising a plurality of railway ties having substantially rounded upper surfaces; a plurality of flexible members fixedly connected to the ties at the ends of said causeway; a plurality of rigid connecting straps between said flexible members to form an apron in conjunction with said flexible members; and a plurality of holding bars extended above said apron and fixedly secured to the railway rails.

3. A railway cattle guard causeway, comprising a plurality of railway ties having substantially rounded upper surfaces; a plurality of flexible members fixedly con nected to the ties at the ends of said cause way; a plurality of rigid connecting straps between said flexible members to form an apron in conjunction with said flexible members; a plurality of holding bars extended above said apron and fixedly secured to the railway rails; and elongated narrow straps disposed between the ends of said causeway and adjacent to the railway rails and the upper side thereof.

4. A railway cattle guard cause ay, comprising a plurality of railway ties having squared supporting sections for the railway rails and end structural rails, said ties be ing rounded between said supporting sections; a plurality of structural rails rigidly mounted upon and secured to said supporting sections at the ends of said ties; a plurality of railway rails rigidly connected to said ties intermediate said supporting sections; a plurality of flexible supporting aprons fixedly connected to the said railway ties at the ends of said causeway and between said railway rails, and said structural rails; and holding bars disposed above said aprons and rigidly secured to said railway rails and said structural rails to extend over said aprons to prevent the rise thereof.

5. A railway cattle guard causeway, com prising a plurality of railway ties having square topped supporting sections. formed thereon and intermediate rounded sections between said supporting sections; a plurality of structural rails rigidly secured to said supporting sections at the extremes of said ties; a plurality of railway rails rigidly secured to the ties intermediate said supporting sections; a plurality of chains rigidly secured to the said ties at the ends of said causeway and disposed in parallel relation to said railway rails; a plurality of connecting bars pivotally attached to the adjacent chains to form in conjunction therewith a flexible apron extended across said causeway; and a plurality of holding bars fixedly attached to said rails and extended between the same to hold the said apron from rising above the said bars.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAflTUEL J. BTLLTNGTON. JAMES A. STEPHENSON.

"Witnesses:

EDWARD Honsnr, GEORGE H. GAU'rI-Imn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, "D. G. 

